William Petersen Trivia

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Birth name: William Louis Petersen 

Date of birth: 21 February 1953 

Place of birth: Evanston, Illinois, USA 

Nickname: Billy 

Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m) 

Spouse: Gina Cirone (14 June 2003 – present), Joanne Brady (1974 – 1981) (divorced) 1 child.

• William Louis Petersen is an American actor of Danish ancestry. 
• Attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho. He wears his old football jersey from that school in most of his movies.
• Daughter named Maite, born in 1975.
• Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on increased funding for crime labs.
• Attended the renowned Steppenwolf Company.
• In his movies, is usually credited without his middle initial (i.e. credited as “William Petersen” and not “William L. Petersen”). One notable exception is his first starring role in To Live and Die in L.A.. 
• Engaged to Gina Cirone, a biology teacher. [March 2002]
• Started at Idaho State University on a football scholarship, where he found acting.
• When Gary Sinise did not get the part of Richard Chance in To Live and Die in L.A., he recommended Petersen to William Friedkin. Ironically, Sinise is currently the star of CSI: NY, the spin-off of Petersen’s TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 
• Married longtime girl friend, Gina Cirone, in Petrignano, Italy.
• He has a production company called, High Horse (with friend & fellow “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000) producer, Cynthia Chvatal).
• He has one grandchild named Mazrik William (born October 2003).
• One “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000) plot line had him pursuing an insane killer played by Tom Noonan, who also played the titular insane killer in Manhunter (1986).
• Was offered a role in Platoon (1986), but turned it down because it was a low paying job and the prospect of going to the Phillipines for weeks of training before filming didn’t appeal to him.
• After C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation, Petersen said he plans to return to Chicago for his first love, theater, which gave him his start. 
• Calls Long Gone (1987) (TV) the most fun he ever had making a movie. He made it instead of appearing in Platoon (1986).
• Was cast in the title role of To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) after Gary Sinise was declined the part. Ironically, Sinise is currently the star of “CSI: NY” (2004), which is the spin-off of Petersen’s series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000).
• Co-presented an award at the 2004 Emmys with Dennis Franz, whose former “NYPD Blue” (1993) co-star, David Caruso stars in “CSI: Miami” (2002) the spin-off of Petersen’s series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000).
• Has played two characters with the surname “Walker.” He played Gideon Walker in “Return to Lonesome Dove” (1993) (mini) and Steve Walker in Fear (1996).
• Because his role in Manhunter was so emotionally exhausting, he did everything he could to rid himself of Will Graham after finishing principal photography. He shaved off his beard, cut his hair and dyed it blonde. 
• Declined the offer to produce “CSI: Miami” (2002), the spin-off of his series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000).
• In a third season episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Gil Grissom pursues an illusionist played by Tom Noonan. Petersen and Noonan played hero and villain, respectively, in Manhunter.
• Because his role in Manhunter (1986) was so emotionally exhausting, he did everything he could to rid himself of the Will Graham character after filming had been completed. This included cutting his hair and dyeing it blonde, and shaving off his beard.
• Played Missy Crider’s father in the mini series The Beast (1996) (TV). Crider later appeared in the second season premiere of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000).
• Was 33 years old when Manhunter (1986) was released. When the film’s remake, Red Dragon (2002) was released, his Will Graham successor, Edward Norton, was also 33 years old.
• An avid Chicago Cubs fan, he sings the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field every year and also narrated the documentary “Beyond The Ivy” about Wrigley Field.
• Petersen is an avid Chicago Cubs fan, and will drop by Wrigley Field at least once a year to sing the seventh inning stretch. 
• Owns the rights of James Ellroy’s crime novel “Clandestine”.
• Turned down a major part in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990).
• Turned down a major part in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995).
• Has performed at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.
• Appears in The Skulls (2000) with Hill Harper. Harper currently co-stars in “CSI: NY” (2004), the spin-off of Petersen’s series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000).
• Winner of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jack Abbott in “The Belly Of The Beast”.
• He has played two characters with the surname “Walker.” He played Gideon Walker in Return to Lonesome Dove, and Steve Walker in Fear. 
• Petersen played Missy Crider’s father in the miniseries The Beast. Crider later appeared in the second season premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 
• Petersen was offered the role of Henry Hill in the movie masterpiece Goodfellas, but turned it down. 
• Peterson admitted that David Caruso plays a better part than him.